Carpet and rug fastener



Aug. 1s, 1936. E. WATSON 2,051,191

CARPET AND RUG FASTENER Filed May 9, 1932 o 2 2 20 E79, 3. El

W Jayoo- I j f l INVENTOR,

` ATTORNEY.

Patented ug. 18, 193

Ni STATES PATENT A OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to means by the use of which carpets and rugs may be held ,in fixed position in relation to a iioor, the whole or a part of the area of which it is desired to cover.

Such invention resides in the provision of a metal sirip of considerable length, and of comparatively narrow width, folded upon or near its longitudinal center line, so that the folded sides of the strip lie parallel and receive between them the folded over edge or margin of the carpet or rug.

The lower side of the folded metal strip is perforated at points in its length forthe reception of nails or screws, by means of which the fastener is secured in the desired position upon the floor. The upper` side of the folded strip is provided with projections or teeth which are adapted to enter the back of the folded over edge or margin of the carpet or rug, and firmly hold the carpet or rug againstchange in its position upon the floor, or

distortion of the alignment of its edges.

If the entire oor is to be covered by a carpet, the fasteners will be secured to the floor in close proximity to the base board, all around the room. If a selected area only of the floor is to be covered by a rug, the fasteners will be secured to the floor in correspondence with the dimensions of the rug. After the fasteners have been secured to the oor as described, each edge or margin of the carpet or rug will be folded over the edge of the free side of the metal strip, which free side will then be folded down upon the lower side of the strip, with the folded over edge or margin of,

the carpet or rug embraced and secured between. In this manner, the arpet or rug will be placed under tension, and the surface of the same will be preserved in an even plane. 'I'he fastening strips are entirely concealed, and no nail heads are exposed to view.

Having thus outlined the nature and purposes of my invention, I will now describe the specific construction illustrated, and in the appended claims will point out the novelty residing in the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a traverse section view of my improved fastener, secured in position upon the door, and ready for the engagement therewith of the edge or margin of the carpet or rug.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, lbroken out to save space, of one of the strips embodying my invention.

Fig'. 3 indicates in an open view how the first fastening of an edge or margin of a carpet or rug is positioned between the two sides of the fastener,

preparatory to securing the carpet or rug. and before tension has been applied at the opposite. edge or margin.

Fig. 4 shows a completion of the operation initiated in Fig. 3.V

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, but showing an underlying carpet lining in position.

Fig. 6 shows a construction designed for' the accommodation of carpets having a deep pile.

Fig. 7 shows a special adaptation of the invenl0 tion, which later will be described.

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the invention in a simplied form. f

In the drawing, thecarpet or rug fastener is shown as embodied in a metal strip A of consid- 15 erable length. but of narrow width in comparison with its length. The strip is bent as at I0, on or near its longitudinal center line, so as to provide a lower side or portion Il and an upper side or portion I2. Such bending is merely a preparatory operation, and while I have' shown the sides or portions Il and I2 of the strip as standing at a angle with respect to eachother, the angular relation may be as desired, or to stand at any such angle as will enable the functions of the 25 invention` as hereinafter described, to be effected.

The lower side Il of the strip A is provided at points throughout its length with perforations I3, into which may be passed screws or nails, or other devices, by means of which the strip will 30 be secured in the desired position upon the iioor which is to be covered. The upper side I2 of the strip may be partially perforated at points in its length, to provide the teeth or projections I4, extending inwardly of the side I2 of the strip, 35 or into the'bight of the completely folded strip. Such teeth or projections I4 should stand normal to the plane of the inner face of the side I2, or extend toward the line I0, on which the strip is bent, so as to hold the fabric from slipping, after such teeth or projections have been engaged in the back oi' the same.

'I'he longitudial free edge. of the side I2, preferably will be cut so as to provide thereon a series of spaced teeth or projections I5, extending the length of the strip, and functioning as before described with reference to the teeth or projections I 4. In some instances, one or the other of the series of teeth or projections I4 or I5, may be omitted in producing the strip, without interferingA with its eiciency as a fastening device.

In using my invention, the strips A are secured to the door in .position to define the area which is to be covered by the carpet or rug, the side 55 I2 of the strips then standing vertically or at any other desired angle. One loose edge or margin of the carpet or rug I6 is folded over the upstanding edge of the side l2 of the strip, at the left, for instance,A and extended into the angle formed by the bend I0. The side I2 is then pressed down or further bent so as to lie parallel with the lower side II of the strip. In such action, the teeth or projections I4 and I5 are caused to enter the carpet or rug from the back, and the carpet or rug is prevented from slipping, by .both the engagement of the teeth or projections, and by the frictional engagement of the folded-together sides II and I2 of the strip A.

The opposite edge of the carpet or rug I6, is now turned bver the upstanding side I2 of the companion strip A, the one at the right, for instance, the fabric being stretched to take up the slack, and caught upon all of the teeth or projections with which the said side of the strip is provided. Now, by folding the side l2 down upon the lower side Il as before, the opposite folded over edges or margins of the carpet or rug will be securely engaged by all of the teeth or projections with which the upper sides of the strips A are provided, as well as being clamped between the folded .sides of the strips A. In pressing down the side Il of the second strip, the carpet or rug I6, ls stretched and `placed under tension, so as to present a smooth face. The underside ofthe margin of the fabric is engaged throughout the length of the margin, and displacement of the straight edge in the line of the fold in the fabric is prevented.

'I'he other opposite edges or margins of the carpet or rug are thenoperated upon in the same manner, so that the four edges or margins of the carpet or rug will be rmly held in position, and undesired displacement is prevented.

Fig. 5 shows a lining I1, for the carpet or rug, the said lining obviating what otherwise would be a raised border, such as is shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a special arrangement to provide accommodation for carpets or rugs having deep pile, and enables the raised border to be eliminated. A shallow channel IB is cut to define an area equal/to that of the carpet or rug, and the strip A, forming the fastener, is placed therein. The folded over edge or margin o f the carpet or rug lies in the channel, below the plane of the surface of the floor.

Fig. 7 shows an adaptation of the fastener to the cover of a table or desk.

Fig. 8 shows the invention in a simplified form. 'Ihe narrow metal strip 20 is divided on a longitudinal line into two side margins, 2| and 22. The margin 2l is perforated, .as before, for attachment to the floor. vided with teeth or projections which engage the back of the carpet, as before described, and clamp the edge or margin of the carpet or rug, when the margin 22 is pressed down into a plane parallel to the plane of the side 2l. l0

'Ilhe carpet or rug may easily be removed, if desired, by simply opening up the fastener, and disengage the edges or margins of the fabric from the teeth or projections. Restoration of the fabric will be made in the manner first del5 scribed. The present invention grips the carpet or rug at points closely spaced in the length of the edge or margin of the fabric, and thus preserves the symmetrical outline of the same. In all forms of the invention, the fastening strip 20 is entirely concealed from view when the carpet or rug is laid, and no nails are exposed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A concealed carpet fastener composed of an elongated metal strip bent longitudinally to constitute .a fastener having two parallel sides, the lower side being perforated to permit permanent attachment of the fastener to the floor, and the 30 upper sideV being provided with teeth or projections over the free edge of which upper side the margin of the fabric -is adapted to be folded, and which teeth or projections are adapted to engage the fabric at its under side, and retain the same 35 against displacement, of its aligned-margin when the upper side-of the fastener is pressed down upon the folded margin of the fabric to clamp the same.

2. A concealed carpet fastener composed of an elongated metal strip bent longitudinally to conf stitute a fastener having two parallel sides, the lower side being `perforated to permit permanent attachment of the fastener to the floor, and the upper side beingprovided with teeth or projections on its free edge adapted to engage a fabric folded over such edge, and other projections to engage the fabric at its under side, and retain the same against displacement of its aligned margin when the upper side of the fastener is pressed down upon the lower side, with the folded margin of the fabric clamped between the said sides.

' ERNEST WATSON.

The margin 22 is pro- 5 

